Level Up: Book Ideas for Adults

The 2025 theme for Summer Library Club is "Level Up" — a game-inspired challenge! Dive into a book featuring a game piece or board on its cover, complementing our gaming-themed activities. Plus, reading one of these books counts toward your Summer Library Club goals.

Check out these titles, each with a game-related element on the cover. They fulfill the checklist requirement to "Get a suggestion from our blog" or simply "Read a book of your choice."

Find unabridged book blurbs and links to the catalog, along with many other librarian-curated reading lists on the Library Guide for Readers.

📖 The Marlow Murder Club – Robert Thorogood | Judith Potts, a feisty 77-year-old crossword creator, witnesses a murder while swimming in the Thames. The police don’t believe her, so she teams up with two unlikely allies to investigate. But when another body appears, they realize they’re chasing a serial killer — and the puzzle they’re solving may be their last.

📖 One Puzzling Afternoon – Emily Critchley | In 1951, lonely teen Edie Green befriends Lucy Theddle, who soon vanishes. In 2018, Edie — now 84 — sees Lucy, unchanged since their youth. No one believes her, but Edie is determined to uncover what happened all those years ago.

📖 The Heist – Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg | Con artist Nicolas Fox escapes custody after being caught by FBI agent Kate O’Hare. Instead of sending her back after him, the agency teams them up to recover stolen millions. Kate must now protect Nick while working the ultimate scam—without blowing her cover.

​📖 The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers – Samuel Burr | Raised by quirky puzzle creators, Clayton Stumper embarks on one last mystery left behind by his mentor — a puzzle that might finally reveal his true identity and prepare him for life beyond the Fellowship.

📖 PS: I Hate You – Lauren Connolly | Maddie embarks on a cross-country road trip to fulfill her late brother’s final wish: scattering his ashes at destinations he was unable to visit before dying of cancer. But she’s stuck traveling with her brother's best friend, Dom, who broke her heart years ago. Forced to face their past, will they make peace or reopen old wounds?

📖 Men Without Women – Haruki Murakami | A collection of seven stories where Murakami explores loneliness, romance, and mysterious encounters — from smoky bars to cryptic conversations, lost love, and existential musings. Includes the story that inspired the film Drive My Car.

📖 Intermezzo – Sally Rooney | Brothers Peter and Ivan navigate loss, relationships, and self-discovery after their father’s death. While Peter juggles two romantic entanglements, Ivan, a chess player, forms an intense bond with an older woman.

📖 Victim – Andrew Boryga | Javier Perez knows how to spin a story. His background helps him land a full scholarship and, later, a prestigious journalism gig — thanks to a viral essay built on lies. But when his best friend Gio gets out of prison, Javier’s carefully constructed identity is at risk of unraveling.

📖 The Puzzler – A.J. Jacobs | Explore the world of puzzles — solving impossible riddles, competing in puzzle tournaments, and discovering how puzzles can shape our thinking. From Rubik’s Cubes to elaborate corn mazes, this book is a mind-bending adventure.
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📖 The Monopolists – Mary Pilon Uncover the real history behind Monopoly. This investigative book reveals the forgotten female inventor, the Quaker influence, and the legal battles over the iconic board game.

Which book will you choose to level up your summer reading? 📚🎲